Thematic Book Club Ideas for Kids: Engaging and Educational Planning Tips

Being the amazing educator you are, you can fully appreciate the power of working with students in small groups. They provide time for targeted instruction, provide an opportunity for you to get to build strong relationships with students, all while fostering a love/appreciation for reading. But, all this only happens if you are strategic about how you plan your book clubs. Using a thematic approach to book clubs helps students connect with content on a deeper level. When exploring book club ideas for kids, selecting texts that offer diverse perspectives on the topics they’re learning about can boost engagement and strengthen comprehension skills. And yes—this works even for our youngest learners!

Molly WheatleyFebruary 15, 2025Reading Stations, Guided reading, Classroom management, TeachingComment

Tips for Adding New Students to Literacy Center Stations

New student starting TOMORROW. Cue the feelings of panic, overwhelm, and excitement. When a new student joins your class mid-year, it can feel like someone tossing a pebble into a perfectly calm pond. Because there’s just so much to do! Yes, it can feel overwhelming But here’s the thing, it’s about making sure that new students feel like they belong from the moment they walk in. With a few thoughtful strategies, you can be ready for that moment before it even happens. Pre-planning new student activities for your classroom and literacy centers helps streamline this process and ensures that everyone feels prepared and included. So, let’s talk about how to make that happen.

Molly WheatleyFebruary 8, 2025Daily 5, Reading Stations, Classroom management, Classroom expectationsComment

Mid-Year Classroom Reset: How to Improve Your Daily 5 Centers

Let’s face it… teaching isn’t a “set it and forget it” type of job. Systems that worked beautifully in September might not hold up as your students’ needs evolve. And with so much of the year still ahead, it’s worth checking in and reflecting to ensure routines and expectations you set aren’t just surviving - but thriving. “Something needs to change…but where do I START?” It starts with REFLECTION. Reflecting on current Daily 5 expectations, systems, and routines can uncover valuable insight into what’s working and what needs addressing in your mid-year classroom reset.

Molly WheatleyJanuary 25, 2025Daily 5, Classroom management, Classroom expectations, Literacy stations, literacy, Reading StationsComment

Ignite Creativity with Winter-Themed Writing Activities

There is something magical about the winter months. The frosted, snow-covered landscape, the excitement and magic that its holidays bring. But these months can also be so frustrating. At this point of the year, our students’ focus starts to dwindle, and the motivation they once had is minimal, all of which can make for a frustrating experience…The answer? Winter-themed writing activities!

Molly WheatleyJanuary 18, 2025Daily 5, Classroom managementComment

Strategies to Master Daily 5 Expectations with Whole Brain Teaching

Mastering how to clearly explain expectations - and ensuring students actually follow them - is the key to a well-managed classroom, especially during independent work time (the heart of the Daily 5 framework!). However, getting students to stick to expectations without feeling like you're constantly nagging can be tricky. When I incorporated Whole Brain Teaching strategies, everything shifted for the better…

Molly WheatleyNovember 30, 2024Daily 5, Classroom management, Classroom expectations, Literacy stations, literacyComment

How to Make the Daily 5 Work in Your Fifth-Grade Classroom: Tips for Implementation Success

To be honest, when I switched to fifth grade, I was a bit skeptical about bringing my daily 5 practices with me. Would it be to “elementary” for my fifth-graders? Would I have their buy-in? Utilizing the Daily 5 to structure my literacy block for my fifth graders was the BEST decision I could have made for my students! With a few simple tweaks, the Daily 5 not only boosted my students' independence but also helped me cover the curriculum with ease. Want to know how I made it work? Read on to learn my secrets!

Molly WheatleyNovember 23, 2024Daily 5, Reading Stations, Fifth grade, Literacy stations, Classroom managementComment

Book Clubs in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Wanna know what I enjoy most about teaching fifth graders? Book Clubs! I know, I’m a bit of a Daily 5 junkie, but Book Clubs help me build strong relationships with my students while still teaching the content I need to cover. But choosing books for upper elementary Book Clubs can be a challenge, which is my I’m sharing my favorite books for upper elementary Book Clubs. These book recommendations are ones my students LOVE, and yours will, too!

Molly WheatleyOctober 26, 2024Daily 5, literacy, Literacy stations, Classroom managementComment

Why Pencil Box Name Tags are a Game Changer for First Grade

When I first started teaching, share buckets were used at my school. I was a first year teacher so I went with what the other teachers in my grade level were doing. Share buckets weren’t something I remembered from elementary school. In fact, I remembered having my own personal pencil box. I continued to use share buckets for years and once I moved schools, I noticed my students were even more territorial with their supplies. I even had parents ask why their child’s supplies weren’t separate. So, this year, after teaching virtually all last year, I decided to make the switch to pencil boxes and I’ll never go back to share buckets. Keep reading to find out why pencil box name tags are a game changer for first graders (and kindergartners too!)

Molly WheatleyMarch 22, 2022Literacy stations, Classroom expectations, Classroom management, First gradeComment

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